Safety Tips

Save Yourself First – There’s No Such Thing as a Fender-Bender on a Bike

Here are some safety tips that will help keep you out of trouble as you enjoy your ride.

We live in a world with cars, distracted drivers, deteriorating infrastructure and mammals. Cars whip U-turns from parking spaces or fling their doors open when parked. Drivers will make direct eye-contact but still turn in front of you. Dogs, squirrels, possums, badgers and kids running into traffic can cause a crash. With this in mind we encourage you to be heads up at all times. Look ahead and try to anticipate what's coming before it’s too late. 

1.) Save Yourself First!!!

When you are in and around traffic, focus 100% on your own safety • Don’t get distracted by others and put yourself at risk. 

2.) Don’t Follow People into Intersections Without Looking! 

This common mistake can lead to a crash or collision even among experienced riders • Always look to make sure it is safe to cross intersections regardless of what anyone else in your group does • Sometimes this requires a greater level of patience • Save yourself first.

3.) Helmets - Always Wear Your Helmet. This Can Save Your Life

Make sure the front is facing forward (For reference, the size sticker is on the back) • Your forehead should not be exposed • Position so the front of the helmet sits just above your brow and make sure the chin strap is securely fastened • Our helmets also have a dial in the rear to secure the fit once you have the strap adjusted. 

4.) Be Defensive • Look Ahead and Anticipate What's Coming

Be aware that anything could happen at any time • Always be on high alert and constantly scan your surroundings for potential hazards and movements • See “badgers” above…

5.) Loose, Dangling Clothing is Dangerous

Tuck your shoelaces into your shoes, especially on your right shoe • Loose shoelaces can get caught in the front sprocket/chain and cause a crash. (See “anomaly” above…) • Don’t tie clothing around your waist or to your handlebars • A dangling sleeve from a jacket getting caught in your wheel will cause you to crash and get hurt. • Don't wear flip flops or open-toe shoes • The reasons for this are obvious, even if you have tough feet.

6.) In Car vs. Bike, Cars Win

Don’t assume drivers see or care about you even when they look directly at you • Make eye contact and shout when necessary.

Look at the Wheels – When cars are pulling out from the side, look at the car’s wheels for rotation to indicate motion.

Parked Cars – Always stay at least a car door’s distance away when passing a line of parked cars in order to avoid the surprise of a door being swung open into your path. 

Look into parked cars through the rear window as you approach to see if the car is occupied • This is a vital clue as to whether they may pull out in front of you or suddenly open their door on your path. 

Assume any parked car could suddenly pull out in front of you or fling its door open. 

7.) Always Ride with the Flow of Traffic (i.e. the correct side of the road) 

Motorists are not expecting you to be coming at them from the opposite direction. You are not a pedestrian so don’t ride one the sidewalk unless absolutely necessary.

8.) Control The Bike

Keep Your Hands on the Handlebars • If you are riding no-hands and hit a bump, you crash and get hurt • Don't take selfies or videos while you’re riding if it means taking your hands off the handlebars.

Always Hook Thumbs Under the Bars • If you hit a bump with your palms resting on the bar and your thumbs are not hooked underneath, you will crash and get hurt. 

Cover Your Brakes at All Times • Keep two fingers poised to grab the brake levers at any time • Avoid panic stops by looking ahead and anticipating what’s next.

9.) Riding with Others

Be predictable and smooth. Ride in a linear manner. Don’t swerve or ride erratically as this will increase the chances of a crash for you and your riding partners. 

Position yourself so you have an out if something happens • Don't let yourself get boxed in • Leave room on your side(s) so you have an escape path if something unexpected happens.

Be careful not to overlap your front wheels with the rear wheel of the person in front of you • If they swerve for an obstacle and clips your front wheel there’s a good chance you will crash • This is one of the most common causes of big crashes, even in the Tour de France where it results in huge pileups of Belgians, Italians, Brits, Americans and sometimes Spaniards.

When you are riding in a group, the person behind is responsible for keeping themselves safe • If you’re behind, you can see in front but the front rider can’t see behind. 

Ride slightly to the side, never directly behind, the wheel of the person in front of you. This way you can see and anticipate what’s ahead.

When riding side-by-side, always be ready to move into a single file line when traffic becomes congested or the road gets narrow. 

Turn your head, look behind you and signal before turning and indicate your intention to turn.

When stopping, pull yourself and your bike completely off the road. 

Of course there are many, many more things you can do to keep safe but these tips will help. Use common sense while you’re out in the road and always pay attention to what’s going on around you. 

Bike Security - Always Lock Your Bike of Keep it in Sight

Bikes are an obvious target for thieves looking for an easy opportunity. The most common of these is leaving a bike unlocked “for a minute” while you run into the store or post office. Lock your bike within your line of sight whenever you can. If this is not possible, lock it in a place where there are people milling about. 

For overnights, you should bring the bike inside your room or store it in a secure area within the perimeter of your accommodations.